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How to Collect Japanese Maple Seeds Early
How to Collect Japanese Maple Seeds Early. Japanese maple seeds can be collected from the tree as soon as the seed pods have turned brown. They can be harvested early before the pod detaches and falls to the ground. Japanese maple seeds must be propagated through a process called stratification before the seed can germinate. If the seed isn't...
Japanese maple seeds can be collected from the tree as soon as the seed pods have turned brown. They can be harvested early before the pod detaches and falls to the ground. Japanese maple seeds must be propagated through a process called stratification before the seed can germinate. If the seed isn't picked early enough and forced into this process, the odds of the seed surviving to germination are low. A Japanese maple seed that is allowed to dry out completely before being collected has a lower chance of being viable.
Things You'll Need
Painter's plastic
Small bucket
Ladder
Inspect the tree every day until the pod and wing of the seed has turned brown. As soon as a few of the seeds have started falling to the ground; the seed pods are ready to harvest. The wing part of the seed should feel like dry paper.
Lay a piece of painter's plastic around the trunk of the tree so that the outer perimeter of the plastic is a few feet beyond the leaf canopy of the tree.
Shake each branch vigorously, but gently, to allow the loose seed pods to fall to the ground.
Select one branch at a time and work from the inside end of the branch to the outer end. Pinch the seed between your thumb and pointer finger and bend it back and forth until it snaps from the branch.
Break off all of the seed wings. This part of the seed is there to assist in helping the seed self-distribute when falling from the tree. The wind catches this wing blowing the seed away as it spins down to the ground.
Drop each of the collected seeds down onto the painter's plastic until all seeds have been picked from the tree branches. Use a ladder to pick the hard-to-reach seed pods.
Fill a small bucket with warm water.
Lift the painter's plastic and allow the seeds to slide down toward the inner edge of the plastic around the tree trunk. Pick up the seeds with your fingers and place them in the small bucket.
Carry the seeds to wherever you will be preparing them for stratification. Stratification is the process used to trick the seeds into thinking the weather has turned cold so that the seed begins to prepare for germination.
Tips & Warnings
Pick the seeds in early morning or late evening to avoid hot temperatures.
